Christmas and Christmas Break fun...

So...I take way to many pictures for this to be one post but...hey I want to remember all the good times. It is what it is :)

Christmas Eve...of course it would be a good idea to play tickle monster with Grampa...and go visit Grandma Great. 

Man we were excited for Christmas! Christmas Eve we drove around looking at lights...not a good tradition for us, Isaac was like "So where do you want to go?" As we went barreling by at 30 mph...but the good news is we did come up with a good tradition...we'll get there...

The good news is Santa found the boys! He brought tool boxes and stockings stuffed with their own tools. There was also some candy in his stocking and the first thing he said was "Oh, candy for Grampa's candy jar!" And he loaded it in his equipment and took it in there. I thought that was pretty cute. Colt followed suit. 

They had to try out the tape measure by measuring Tanner.  Then the next picture was so blurry of TanTan but it was too cute of Isaac looking at him to leave it off. 

Grama hooked them up with remote control cars...Tanner got them in the face a few times :( And Isaac got in the fun a little too. 

As far as filling the requested items...(Cannon's sure you can just "order" whatever you want from Santa...I keep telling him "Go ahead but Santa will probably just bring you something he knows you'll like." Anyway Cannon wanted a toy Rudolph--but he REALLY wanted to meet Rudolph, He got a little toy and Colt got a little Santa.  Cannon also really wanted his OWN tablet...Santa didn't quiet go there but he left two packages label To: Mom and Dad for Cannon, for Colton. So we still have control of the screen time...and that Santa...he's a jolly old fellow and a pretty good guy!

We had a good time, We enjoyed the extended family fun, then hurried to church, It was a nice a day. Monday Isaac wanted to take the boys and go get Christmas lights. Oh wait, the back story is the boys have been begging for Christmas lights and decorations. They think we're so lame, they weren't amused when they asked if we could decorate and I put up little candy canes and bows and such on the front porch, they want LIGHTS! In fact if we ever look at houses Colt wants to buy the one with the most lights-whether or not its for sale- So Isaac told them one day "Well maybe after Christmas when they go on sale we can get some. That would be a good Christmas present for our family right?" Well I didn't know he was totally serious, truthfully I kind of thought he was just trying to pacify them. But Monday morning thats what Isaac wanted to do, he wasn't sure about waiting long enough for Colt to wake up--but we did and he didn't want to go anyway. ANYWAY Isaac didn't realize the Christmas stuff actually goes on sale a couple of before Christmas so it was pretty picked over by the day after Christmas but it was still so fun. First we went to Home Depot and I was just kind of along for the ride but Cannon was asking for those blow up things-Isaac went for it. And a bunch of lights (we don't even know where we're going to live next year) slowly I came around and realized he was really game to buy Christmas decorations. I'm telling you I've NEVER been shopping with Isaac when he was like that but it was pretty dang fun. Next we headed for Walmart and luckily Colt had decided he wanted in on the fun! So we picked him up and went to Walmart. He got so excited and was jumping up and down when he found a "Paw Patrol" blow up I said "Oh no...lets just get one of these cheaper ones" Isaac said "No, he can get it." ...pick yourself up off the floor-I had to!... I'm telling you it was SO DANG FUN. I said "Honey this is so fun, I think this should be our Christmas tradition, that after Christmas we get something Christmasy for the next year." He was game, and I said something about maybe next year we should get a tree, to which he relpied "Oh you want a new tree, lets just get one." I'm telling you, this is not the Isaac I know, but I like it!! And maybe the back of the van is full (almost)  before we ever start loading up but...we'll make something work. And I hope the tradition lasts :)
And so on to the rest of the week:

We got to see Barb and Jer's family while they were down, it was so fun. But their kids are all grown up, its so weird. 

We went to look at Chirstmas lights (with Grama) on night while Isaac was visiting with his cousins. We had a great time and I loved this pic with the temple in the background! I love when the kids notice it glowing in the middle of town. Colt spotted it driving one day and said so excited "Dat da temple where you and dad dot mawwied." Yep bud, good work. Then he was so mad when we wrapped around and the black hill blocked his view of it. 

Isaac and I got to go to the temple Tuesday, we missed the session and didn't want to wait around so we just did sealings, it was nice. Then the next morning we hit a session and Grandma Ison had come back down so we got to go with her too. I don't even know the last time I got to do a session with Isaac so it was really nice. Then the next day I got to do a session with my parents and a bunch of my mom's side of the family because my cousin's kid was going through for his own endowment before he goes on his mission. It was really neat, my aunt had family names for us and my mom and I did sisters then we looked over and realized my other aunt had the sisters mom it was pretty cool. And there was a gal from our Sunday School class when we lived in Ivins who was also go through for the first time so it was so fun to see her and friends from our ward in Ivins. The temple 3 times in 3 days-ya gotta take advantage when its close--and the babysitters can't be beat. While I went the 3rd time Isaac tended and he and his mom took the boys to fiesta fun. The next morning Cannon said "I want dad to tend again." I guess that means they had a good time. Isaac said "No way" I took that to mean he had his hand full but he also said "I want mom to come and us do things as a family." :)

We had lots of fun at the feed yard...the boys keep Grampa running! And he just keeps spoiling them...

Oh this little toad had fun at lunch with Grama and Grampa while his brothers where hiking, then its more fun at the corrals.

We've been up to see Poppa great a few times. The boys helped him open some Christmas presents. And Mary Ann let them play a little balloon baseball with him, they loved it. Sometimes we go and its fun...sometimes he's just sleeping and can't wake up. 

And back to the feed yard...there's just no organization to this post. But the boys loved shooting Uncle Ky's new pellet gun--even though they missed. And how bout Grama getting in on it?

Wednesday we got to go to the airport and be there when Court got home. It was super fun! I had a good time visiting with Cassidee too and asking about all those kids I got to coach...but they're grown up now...SO WEIRD! It was a quick visit, but so fun to see the Allred's!

Pulling himself up to things was new...so documented. Then Cannon proudly set him up in the chair. 

Above is the trip to fiesta fun, below we got to meet up with the Wisehunts at a park. It was SO FUN, its been way too long! I loved how quickly Cannon and Lilah were fast friends!

And lastly today we all went on a hike with Grandma Ison and Aunt Marjorie. Then later Blake Ayla and Eden met up with is. We had a good time, took a few "short cuts" and saw a really cool hawk we tried to get pictures of.
I think that's it.
Even if its not I'm giving up.
Such a great weeks though! This desert air and dixie sunshine is good for my soul,,,ok that a lie-its nice but the family time is what's good for my soul!

Oh there's no place like home for Holidays!

When even Isaac was singing that title song driving across the country I was all smiles! OK though, hang on, I have so many stories to tell and its late and I'm hurrying so I guarantee my fingers won't keep up with my brain on this one and it will probably never get edited...and I there's a hundred pictures-no collages-so maybe I should remember weeks like this when I complain about it costing a fortune to print the blog book out at the end of the year. Oh well. Worth it!

TanTan is FINALLY sitting up on his own! And when Cannon wanted in on the picture celebration I was game, because he's getting to where he's pretty ornery about me taking his picture sometimes. --who could blame him? 

This is what a Saturday afternoon quiet time looks like when there's a little skiff of snow on the ground. They looked so longingly...we totally gave in. 

They're so cute when they play together! They got a little sledding time in with the Jarvis' too. Then Sunday came and holy cow--lets talk cold. 

We were getting ready for church when I checked the weather...at -10 feels like -25 this is how we eat breakfast, in front of you're own heater! YIKES and everyone said it was a mild winter last year but DANG, holy cow, no kidding!

Sunday morning Cannon  was in on our bed talking to Isaac and then Isaac got in the shower and Cannon came into the kitchen and said "Dad asked me if I wanted to go to Utah tonight and I said yes, so we're going to Utah!" Umm okay, that was the original plan, sweet! I'm not going to complain about going sooner than later but wait, I just found out from our 5 year old? When I told Isaac that was a conversation that I thought should've happened between us first he said "Well it just came up." ...I maintain that it should "come up" with me the wife first--but back to who cares? Lets go! But I had volunteered to feed the primary teachers who's wifes had taken off early for Christmas break. Isaac said "I know, after that, I'll pack." So that's pretty much what we did. I'm making dinner Isaac says "Cannon only has 2 pair of pants." Not true-I just hadn't done laundry. I'm telling you it turned into a scramble but it was fun.  It was fun to have those guys over for dinner, they're nice, and I was so happy to feed them if I didn't have to find subs for primary!!! (I was the only presidency person there-no music people either except the pianist and she was a life saver!) Two of them have babies, one just a little older, one just a little younger than Tanner but they each held TanO and both commented "I just needed to hold a baby." Poor guys were missing their families. They other played and played with Cannon and Colton and it was a good time. 

The boys were wound to the nines...before they came and got them more wound up. And they left and shortly there after-we left. 

I was pumped! Christmas music on the radio-headed home for Christmas. Loaded with some chocolate some friends dropped by--I did a pretty good job of spelling Isaac through the night ;) In Kansas City the road were a little wet but the icy parts were just off to the side then it was pretty clear through the night. But then came Colorado. Dang it. It was awful. So slow. By far the worst time we've made that drive. The storm was far past but then it had been SO DANG COLD that that even though the storm was 2 days before the road were still awful, and we were in traffic in Denver, with bad roads it was awful. Then there was an accident on I-70 that had us just plain old stopped so we just let the boys out of their car seats while we sat there for 45 min. Ironically I only have pictures of the worst traveler...and he was pretty darn happy when I took them, we played the best we could. The truth is the kid travels about like me. Not good.  Want to hear him scream--just strap him in that car seat. 

All in all our drive was about 5 extra hours and explaining while we were stopped to the kids really helped me keep things in perspective too. Like when I was saying there was an accident but we just need to be thankful that we were safe and we hope they people involved are ok too. 

But we made it Monday evening and the fun was on. Grampa Ison had a project they boys got to help him with, they were making a present for Tanner (that was really cool) Grandma was spoiling them like crazy, it was really really fun. 

Tuesday Morning we got a couple movies and this picture from Cannon class party that he opted to miss to get to Utah sooner (he's no dummy) but the Frady cat t-shirts I made turned out pretty cute!

Tuesday morning Cannon said the prayer at breakfast and asked for all the fun things he wanted to do (again, no dummy-if you want something you might as well ask Heavenly Father) but it was "Please bless that we can go sledding and build a snowman and go swimming" and we did! I got snow pics off Grandma's camera but I'll have to add them in later, they even  brought their little snowmen with then down out off the mountain and kept them in the shad for a while. :) 

The wave pool at Price--we've been one other time but Cannon was small. It was ridiculously fun. Colt hated the waves. The Pizza and Crazy Bread were alright in his world though. But Isaac and I even tried to get on the (single) tube one of the rounds of waves. Oh My. We failed. It was so fun though. I told him it was the best date we'd been on in a while. (Even if it was only 15 minutes) 

We look fwd to going back! 

We did have one little disaster when we heard thump (Crying) then wump wump wump wump as Tanner toppled to the bottom of the stairs. He's the first of our kids to tumble down stairs. I think my heart stopped. Thankfully he was fine.  I confess to not being a very patient or loving wife in moments right after as Isaac was supposed to be watching him. I did calm down it just took a bit. They tried a couple times after to teach Tanner to back down them but I don't think he'd big enough to get it quite yet. 

Wednesday looked like this...

Seriously pretty much all morning in front of the computer listening to the equipment auction. Cannon "liked the song" the auctioneer was singing. So funny. But it was on all morning, sometimes with the volume down but then he'd just check and see what things were going for and what not. It was the one they were going to go to-and then we wouldn't have left until Wednesday night and the auction was 3 1/2 hours in the wrong direction, I was super glad we opted to leave Sunday. But we were just kind of hanging around, we'd been to the library and checked out lots of fun Christmas books but not much else when Isaac said "Do you want to go to St. George today?" We are Mr and Mrs Isaac Ison...we fly by the seat of our pants! But we (in a flash) decided it really was the best option. It was supposed to storm the next two day. (We were going to head down Thurs of Friday) and Isaac's grandma is not well, since her stroke in October her health has been on a steady and sharp decline and she really is in the very end stages of life, Christmas could be spent on either side of the veil. But when she does pass away her funeral will Huntington and we just decided it would be better to head to St. George sooner than later that way if next week Isaac's siblings were coming  because there was going to be a funeral  it would be a good time to go back up and we'd spend more time up there then with them...and who knows...we just tried to make best decision we could. 

So we packed up and headed South. Only we didn't tell my family. Finally at Pintura I let my dad in on it but I knew my mom was having a little grandkid party that night with Klint and Kyler's kids but I didn't want to rush to try to make it so we just kindof played it by ear. They had already gone to the movie by time we got there but that way we got to go see Great Grandma Kenworthy (I'm totally a yeller when I talk to old people because I'm used to Grandpa...whoops) But we were glad we got to stop in and see her. Then the boys cashed in on some "tickle grampa" time. And spend HOURS and a few rolls of tape working up their own sleigh and reindeer. 

Grandma and the cousins-not knowing we were there-finished the movie and then drove all over town looking at Christmas lights, it was 10:00 before they came home! Isaac totally didn't make it. But I'd told the boys they could stay up. Thankfully Chip and I found the BYU game to listen to! They came home and while she thought everyone was all wound down...not so...everyone was Sooo tired but definitely wound back up! It was fun though, they boys got in on the sleepover and she had Snowmen pancakes "with too much sugar" (it was the snow) on them crafts and stuff the next morning. A good time was had by all!

Ok...the rest...pictures only. Maybe I'll add in more later but its late and I'm tired. Suffiecet to say we've having a great time! 

oh and this computer is the WORST to blog on...least a hundred times this post just typing along and all of the sudden my cursor is in a different place...still typing along. That might explain SOME of the typos. So annoying!